Three-way foundation garment



July'6, 1954 w sH 2,682,660

THREE- WAY FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed Nov. 29, 1950 Z6 INVENTOR.

GEORGE G. WAN13H Patented July 6, 1954 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFlCE 2Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in foundationgarments; and, more particularly, the aim is to provide a novel andvaluable foundation garment which is a three- Ways such garment becauseit will serve three purposes.

According to the present invention, the combination is provided of acorselet and a girdle, with the latter constituting av definitelypositioned yet completely detachable inner belt in the corselet, wherebywith the corselet and the girdle both worn the foundation garment is aninner-belt corselet, whereby with the inner belt detached and removedfrom the corselet the latter is worn as an ordinary corset, and wherebywith the inner belt detached and removed from the corselet said innerbelt is worn as a girdle. It is consequently clear that the three waysthe new garment can be used will afford the equivalent of three separategarments each for serving its own distinctive purpose.

said girdle, to act as just explained as an inner belt when worn withthe corselet, is so constituted that it functions to give all thefleshmass shiftings and figure controlling results of the usual girdle.The outer garment unit, which is the corselet, is so constituted thatwhen worn without the inner belt it is a comfortable unbelted corselethaving all the important features and figure controlling utilities of acorselet of this type. In the case of a figure needing that support andcontrol to be afforded not otherwise than by a full corset worn over agirdle as a primary or first applied Waist and hips constrictor, thecorselet of the present invention, and also the girdle, this last as aninner belt member attached to the corselet, will both be worn.

A feature of the invention, further, is a coupling means for thecorselet and girdle, which is in the nature of a pocket at the inside ofthe back portion of the corselet, and which insures most efficient useof the girdle when it and also the corselet is worn, but which permitsinstantaneous complete detachment of the girdle from the corselet whendesired.

The corselet is herein illustrated as having the usual side elasticpanels, and as provided, also preferably, with a hook and eye closurefor a side opening;.but, as will be understood, modifications arepossible within the invention.

Also exemplifyingly, the inner belt or girdle is herein illustrated aspreferably provided with a hook and eye closure, as having said closureoffset from the central front portion of the girdle, as having a lacingextending in an up and down direction at said front portion, and,further, as having elastic side sections. However, aside from othervariations within the invention, it is contemplated that said lacingfeature may be eliminated, as it is not entirely necessary because ofsaid elastic side sections, which will permit the girdle, when usedsolely as such, or when used as an attached inner belt of the corselet,to expand considerably.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation showing a now favored embodiment ofthe invention, with a side closure for the corselet partly open near thebottom of the garment.

Fig. 2 show said garment in top plan.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with the sides and frontportions of the corselet merely indicated in dot and dash lines, therebyto show more clearly the front portions of the inner belt or girdle.

Fig. 4 is a front view of said girdle, as disposed forwardly of the rearportion of the corselet fragmentarily shown; this view being as thoughtaken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an inside view looking toward said rear portion of thecorselet, with the inner belt or girdle removed, for more clearlyshowing the aforesaid means in the nature of a pocket.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, H1 designates thecorselet, the same shown as having a pair of elastic side panels I l,and above these a brassiere portion I2 including a pair of shoulderstraps M. These latter are illustrated as incorporating tape-like partswhich are longitudinally elastically stretchable. In various otherrespects the corselet H1 is shown as more or less conventionallyconstructed and equipped; for example, there are included substantiallytriangular elastic gores, oneshown at It as at the top rear of thecorselet and the other shown at it as at the bottom front of thecorselet, and a front lateral stiffener is indicated at I! and two rearvertical stiffeners at [8, l8.

The corselet i0 is further shown as being of the side opening type, suchopening designated I9. and shown as having its closing means comprisedof a suitable number of eyes 28) and complementary hooks 2 I.

To provide the aforesaid mean in the nature of a pocket, a specialvertically disposed inner section 22 is included; this, to provide saidpocket as a tunnel 23 of a definite height and at a particular locationin the corselet It, being across its upper end attached to the backpanel 24 of the corselet by way of a top cross tape suitably stitched tosaid back panel and across its lower end attached to said back panel byway of a bottom cross tape 23 suitably stitched to said back panel. Assaid section 22 also is shown, the same is braced along both its longvertical edges by stiifeners 21.

The inner belt or girdle unit is as a whole designated 28, and thejust-mentioned definite height of the tunnel 23 should be such asproperly to receive the rear portion of the girdle 28 and thereby topredetermine that the girdle will be held substantially to a definitedisposition within the corselet l0 and relative to the over-all heightof the latter as indicated in Fig. 4.

The girdle 28 is shown as having, toward its front but at pointslaterally offset from the central portion of its front, elastic sections29. Also, the girdle 23 is shown as having an opening 39 laterallyoffset from said central portion of the girdles front, with one side ofsaid opening contributed by a marginal portion of one of the elasticsections 29; while the closing means for the opening 39 is indicated inFig. 4 as comprised of a line of hooks and eyes similar to thosedescribed in connection with the side opening 19 of the corselet l0.

The front portion of the girdle, between the two elastic sections 29, isfurther shown as comprising two inelastic sections SI, 3i, each having astiffener 32; these sections 3( being equipped along their adjacentmargins with lines of eyelets having threaded therethrough a lacing 33whereby said margins may be pulled up closer and closer together as saidlacing is tightened up more and more. Desirably included, too, is afabric member 34 for acting as a flexible connectcr between the twosections 3! and as a shield to cushion any part of the lacing 33 againstcutting onto the flesh at the abdominal wall.

As in ordinary foundation garments, the new garment of the presentinvention is desirably equipped with a suitable plurality of garters forbeing engaged with the stockings worn. As herein shown, the arrangementprovided is characteriaed by the inclusion of a pair of front garters 35and a pair of rear garters 35 suspended from the corselet it, and a pairof side garters 37 suspended from the girdle 28.

In wearing the girdle 28 alone, the same, after being slid out of thepocket or tunnel 23, is placed around the waist of the wearer, and thenclosed at the opening 39; provided the same person has worn the girdlebefore, with the consequence now that the lacing 33 is properlytightened Otherwise, after the opening 39 is closed, the lacing 33 istightened and tied.

In wearing the corselet i9 alone, as an ordinary corset with inbuiltbrassiere, the same is donned as in any ordinary side opening corset;following detachment of the girdle 28.

In wearing the new foundation garment in its entirety, that is, with thegirdle 28 at its central back portion pocketed in the tunnel 23 and sonow ready to act in its capacity as an inner belt, the garment is placedaround the body, and with the wearers shoulders under the straps i l,first the girdle is secured around the waist as described in theparagraph second preceding, and then the corselet H3 is adjusted, and,as usual in the case of a side opening corset, closed at its opening I9.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A combination foundation garment of the type described, comprising anouter corselet having an elongated rectangular-shaped rear panel and aclosable side opening, an inner belt of a vertical height less than saidcorselet positioned within said corselet and having a closable sideopening, and a vertically elongated inner suction substantially similarin shape to the rear panel and positioned against the inner face andextending the width of the rear panel of said outer corselet, said innersection being secured along its top and bottom edges to the top andbottom edges of the inner face of said rear panel and being free of saidrear panel along tis vertical side edges forming a closed tunnel withopen ends between the adjacent faces of said rear panel and said innersection, said inner belt having its intermediate portion extendedslidably through said tunnel formed by the inner section and rear panel,to be worn as a girdle independently' of said corselet, said innersection being of a length slightly greater than the vertical height ofsaid inner belt and secured to said rear panel closely adjacent the topand bottom edges of said inner belt to hold said inner belt to adefinite disposition within said corselet.

2. A combination foundation garment of the type described, comprising anouter corselet having an elongated rectangular-shaped rear panel and aclosable side opening, an inner belt of a vertical height less than saidcorselet positioned within said corselet and having a closable sideopening, and a vertically elongated inner section substantially similarin shape to the rear panel and positioned against the inner face andextending the width of the rear panel of said outer corselet, said innersection being secured along its top and bottom edges to the top andbottom edges of the inner face of said rear panel and free of said rearpanel along its vertical side edges forming a closed tunnel with openends between the adjacent faces of said rear panel and said innersection, said inner belt having its intermediate portion extendedslidably through said tunnel formed by the inner section and rear panel,to be worn as a girdle independently of said corselet, said innersection being of a length slightly greater than the vertical height ofsaid inner belt and secured to said rear panel closely adjacent the topand bottom edges of said inner belt to hold said inner belt to adefinite disposition within said corselet, and stiffeners mounted alongthe outer vertical side edges of said inner section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1Number Name Date 1,720,147 Reese July 9, 1929 1,798,502 Sigsbee Mar. 31,1931 1,807,159 Koford May 26, 1931 1,887,486 Quine Nov. 8, 19322,052,935 Moran Sept. 1, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date605,010 France Feb. 8, 1926

